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The most common offense that most people get arrested for is DUI-Driving under the Influence. This drunk driving offense is also called DWI -Driving while intoxicated, in some states like New York. If you do not handle the DUI arrest rightly, you might even lose your driving privileges.
If you face a criminal charge for DUI and fear that you might be taken into police custody, you must secure bail at once. If you pay the bail money, you will be released till the trial. Usually, the bail amounts set for DUI range between $500-1000. If you are unable to bear the bail cost, you can contact a bail bond agent to post the bail.
When you sign a bail bond, the bail bonds company will pay the entire bail amount. In return, he will charge a non-refundable fee for the bail bond which is 10% of the bail amount. You must not only pay the bail but also appear for all the hearings before trial.
Conditions for a DUI arrest
A person is said to have committed a DUI offense if his blood alcohol content or BAC is 0.8 or above on the breathalyzer test. Even if you passed the field sobriety tests, if your BAC is high, you are still considered guilty of a drunk driving offense.
Bail process for DUI
Most often, the judge denies a recognizance release and demands a financial guarantee in the form of bail. This bail is like an insurance amount that you pay to ensure that you appear for every criminal hearing till your trial is over. If you make a court appearance at every hearing, your bail amount is refunded or else forfeited.
Bail hearing
The bail amount is usually fixed using a bail schedule and most offenders pay it at once by posting a bail bond. If the accused person cannot pay immediately on booking, a bail hearing is set.
The judge fixes the bail amount at the bail hearing based on the bail schedule or other factors. These factors include the accused’s criminal record, his/her employment status, community ties, and above all, the seriousness of the crime.
After a DUI Arrest
Once you are booked for a DUI-driving offense, you must pay the bail and court costs along with a fine. Your driving license may also be revoked for a short period of 3-6 months. In some states, even First time DUI offenders have to serve some prison time compulsorily. In some other states, the individual must engage in community service without fail.
Bail amounts
The bail amount for a DUI charge depends on your criminal history. If you are committing the DUI offense for the first time, the fine may be just $1000-2000. If you are a repeat offender, it can go up to even $10,000.
Certain other factors like the nature of the crime also come into play in fixing the bail amount. If a person commits 3 DUI offenses within 7 years, this amounts to felony charges.
The DUI bail amount also depends on whether the accident caused any injury to any persons or damage to the vehicle. If the accident resulted in death, the charge could mount o Vehicular Substance Offense convictions. You might then have to engage a Criminal Defense Attorney to save you from jail.
Engaging experienced attorney costs a lot and you are left with no money for paying bail. This is when you contact a bail bond company to post bail for you.
After paying the bail amount
Once the bail has been posted, you might want to retrieve your driving license. To do this, you must go to a driving school and enroll in a learning program. Here, the counselor evaluates for a drink or drug dependency. Depending on your performance in the defensive driving school, you get your license if you are deemed fit to drive.
Ignition Interlock device and SR-22 insurance
Even after following all the above steps, the state has an ignition interlock requirement that you must follow if you wish to drive. you must fit an ignition interlock device to the steering wheel of your motor vehicle. This device prevents the engine from starting if it senses alcohol on your breath.
In some states, you must take additional SR-22 insurance if you want to resume driving after a driving criminal offense.
Getting bail after a DUI arrest is a complex process and is one that requires the expert services of an experienced bail bondsman. Engage a reputed bail bond agency to handle your bail on DUI arrest to avoid an arrest record and get a quick pre-trial release.